Verses 20-22
20-22. Go ye forth of Babylon The message closes here. The exiled but redeemed ones get orders for a march to Zion. The word flee is not a note of alarm; the speed and joy of coming deliverance is the idea; or possibly Jeremiah 51:45, tallying with the idea in Revelation 18:4, may explain this part of the message. But the call is for the voice of song loud enough for the end of the earth to hear. The redemption of Jacob is the subject of the singing.
Thirsted not… the deserts The exodus memorial is called to mind afresh by this later deliverance; or, that is made the type of this, in that, wonderful as was the provision and supply of that departure across deserts, this shall be greatly more wonderful in these regards. All is spiritual; waters of salvation flowed forth from the smitten rock, and that rock was Christ, accompanying them with ever-living abundance of grace and prosperity. The section closes with a contrast.
No peace… unto the wicked No shalom no sound health, no prosperity, to the loose, irregular, undevout sons of Israel, holding adherence half with Jehovah and half with idol or world worship. No peace no joyful, solid hope is pronounced to such in this final remonstrance.
Thus the thrilling section ends. God is all, man in himself is nothing, idols are utter nothingness. With these truths divinely established this first series of the three concludes. It began with comfort ye, emphasized. No peace unto the wicked is its last word. Throughout, the struggle with idolatry and its effects has been a travail. This subject has been turned over and over, and viewed from every point with remonstrance and expostulation. It is now exhausted; it comes no more to the foreground. The prophet is also done with Babylon. Nor do we hear any more of Cyrus. From this on, the messages are of hope, not to redeemed sons of Jacob merely, but to all the world.
The Times of Messiah. CHAPTERS 49-60.
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